Wrecking Solli's Weekends - tc464(A) v. Mike Solli(J) [no Mike Solli]

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> Wrecking Solli's Weekends - tc464(A) v. Mike Solli(J) [no Mike Solli]

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Wrecking Solli's Weekends - tc464(A) v. Mike Solli(J) [... - 1/16/2012 8:52:03 PM

tc464

Posts: 126
Joined: 2/27/2004
From: Sodom on Potomac
Status: offline

I'm not much of a poster on these forums except for the odd witty remark or ordnance topics. Since 2005 however, I have quietly waged war with Mike Solli. Mike is an excellent opponent and life is never easy when he is on the offensive. We have started and stopped several times for various reasons, and we have once again started an AE match using the betas.

General situation - Its 30 December 1941. Malaya is pretty much done except for Singapore. Same with the PI and Bataan. He is working his way down the eastern coast of Borneo. Rabaul fell a couple days ago, and Port Moresby is now threatened.

Fairly standard, right ? Well, let me peak your interest a little....

and part of yesterdays results...

Sub attack near Woodlark Island at 106,132

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Kirishima
CA Chikuma
CA Tone
CL Abukuma
DD Hatsushima
DD Kasumi
DD Nenohi
DD Hatsuharu
DD Arare

Allied Ships
SS KXII

Ammo storage explosion on CV Hiryu
Ammo storage explosion on CV Hiryu
SS KXII launches 4 torpedoes at CV Hiryu
KXII diving deep ....

Details to follow...

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by tc464 -- 1/16/2012 8:53:28 PM >

Post #: 1

RE: Wrecking Solli's Weekends - tc464(A) v. Mike Solli(... - 1/16/2012 8:55:24 PM

Grfin Zeppelin

Posts: 1515
Joined: 12/3/2007
From: Germany
Status: offline

Subscribed

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(in reply to tc464)

Post #: 2

RE: Wrecking Solli's Weekends - tc464(A) v. Mike Solli(... - 1/16/2012 9:04:12 PM

SqzMyLemon

Posts: 4239
Joined: 10/30/2009
From: Alberta, Canada
Status: offline

I follow Mike's AAR so won't say much. Knowing how Mike loves planning and optimizing his war production and transport shipping methods, sadly that just doesn't apply when putting naval assets into harms way. That's going to hurt!

_____________________________

Luck is the residue of design - John Milton

Don't mistake lack of talent for genius - Peter Steele (Type O Negative)

(in reply to Grfin Zeppelin)

Post #: 3

RE: Wrecking Solli's Weekends - tc464(A) v. Mike Solli(... - 1/16/2012 9:36:27 PM

tc464

Posts: 126
Joined: 2/27/2004
From: Sodom on Potomac
Status: offline

Now for some details....

Assumptions - Malay is lost. Expect a speed dash to Rabaul and Port Moresby.
Objective - a fighting retreat, and delay the PM landings so I can reinforce.

First came Operation Buzzkill. The primary objective was to split the RN up into small teams, find the invasion TF's, and maybe knock off a few transports. So, I split Force Z up. I sent Repulse to Mersing, POW to Khota Baru, and split the DD's into two ship teams. The DD's were sent in several directions to scout and harrass (and boy did they ever). Next, I sent the DD's in Hong Kong west towards Saigon. CL Mauritius went to Kuantan.

Now I'll post some clips from the reports...

8 Dec 41

------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kuantan at 52,80, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai, Shell hits 1
DD Fubuki
DD Usugumo
DD Shirayuki
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Sagiri

Allied Ships
CL Mauritius, Shell hits 4

-------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Soc Trang at 58,74, Range 16,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Murakumo
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Yugiri
PB Chosa Maru, Shell hits 1
CM Hatsutaka
AK Hirokawa Maru
AK Sado Maru
AK Sagami Maru
AK Kinka Maru, Shell hits 1
AK Kyushu Maru
AK Tosan Maru
xAK Kansai Maru
xAK Kashii Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Aobasan Maru
xAK Asosan Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Atutasan Maru
xAK Kinugawa Maru
xAK Nako Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Osaka Maru
xAK Seizan Maru
xAK Kyokko Maru
xAK Ryujo Maru
xAKL Kashi Maru
xAKL Nittatsu Maru

Allied Ships
DD Vampire, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tenedos, Shell hits 2

Japanese ground losses:
252 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 29 (16 destroyed, 13 disabled)
---------------------------------------

9 Dec 41

---------------------------------------
Sub attack near Mersing at 51,82

Japanese Ships
SS I-121

Allied Ships
CL Mauritius, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

SS I-121 launches 4 torpedoes
Escort abandons search for sub

----------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Saigon at 62,74, Range 16,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kashii, Shell hits 1
CL Isuzu
DD Murakumo
DD Yugiri
CM Hatsutaka
AK Hirokawa Maru
AK Sado Maru
AK Sagami Maru
AK Kinka Maru
AK Kyushu Maru
AK Tosan Maru
xAK Kansai Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Kashii Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Aobasan Maru
xAK Atutasan Maru
xAK Kinugawa Maru
xAK Osaka Maru
xAK Seizan Maru
xAK Kyokko Maru
xAK Fusemi Maru
xAK Nissen Maru
xAK Ryoyo Maru
xAK Ryujo Maru
xAKL Kashi Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Nittatsu Maru, Shell hits 1
PB Fuji Maru #3

Allied Ships
DD Scout, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
DD Thanet
DD Thracian, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
711 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 55 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
-------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Samah at 71,67, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Hakonesan Maru, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Hakubasan Maru
PB Nako Maru #2, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Scout
DD Thanet
DD Thracian
-------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Samah at 70,67, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Somedono Maru, Shell hits 18, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Scout
DD Thanet
DD Thracian
-------------------------------------------------

10 Dec 41

-------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Mersing at 51,82

Japanese Ships
SS I-121

Allied Ships
DD Electra, heavy damage
-------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Mersing at 51,81

Japanese Ships
SS I-155

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Torpedo hits 1
------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, I saw an opportunity near Miri and CA Houston was able to exploit...

Day Time Surface Combat, near Miri at 64,87, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
APD Aoi, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
TB Kasasagi, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
AMc Wa 19
xAK Hokko Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Zinzan Maru, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
xAK Giyu Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
xAKL Kiko Maru, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
xAKL Anbo Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires

Allied Ships
CA Houston
-----------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Patani at 52,73, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DMS W-1, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Syoto Maru
xAK Nanko Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Patani at 51,73, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Hukuyo Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Iwashiro Maru, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Jusan Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Kyokusei Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Express, Shell hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Saigon at 60,73

Japanese Ships
xAK Eiko Maru #2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KXVII

xAK Eiko Maru #2 is sighted by SS KXVII
SS KXVII launches 4 torpedoes

---------------------------------------------

Submarine attack near Saigon at 60,73

Japanese Ships
xAK Eiko Maru #2, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KXVII
---------------------------------------------

11 Dec 41

---------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Miri at 64,86, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAKL Anbo Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Houston
----------------------------------------------

CV Kaga was in the area, and the Hong Kong crew found her gas station...

Day Time Surface Combat, near Saigon at 60,71, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Yomogi, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
AO Erimo, Shell hits 32, and is sunk
AO Notoro, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AO Tsurumi, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Vendetta
DD Stronghold
DD Jupiter
----------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Soc Trang at 60,74, Range 16,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka, Shell hits 1
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Samidare
DD Ikazuchi
DD Inazuma

Allied Ships
CL Mauritius, Shell hits 6
-------------------------------------------------

12 Dec 41

-------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Saigon at 60,72, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame, Shell hits 1
DD Samidare
DD Ikazuchi
DD Inazuma

Allied Ships
DD Stronghold
DD Jupiter
-------------------------------------------------

By 13 December, Buzzkill was pretty much complete. Most of the DD's had sunk and there was a lot of Jap firepower floating around, so it was time to go. POW is now sitting in Colombo getting fixed. CA Houston and BC Repulse got away clean. Next up...Operation Welcome Wagon - the Port Moresby campaign.

(in reply to SqzMyLemon)

Post #: 4

RE: Wrecking Solli's Weekends - tc464(A) v. Mike Solli(... - 1/16/2012 10:14:10 PM

tc464

Posts: 126
Joined: 2/27/2004
From: Sodom on Potomac
Status: offline

While the Malay campaign was unfolding, I started to quietly move the Dutch subs, the US S boats, all CM's, and the Dutch Do-24's southward to the Torres Strait area. The objective of Welcome Wagon is the same...find the invasion TF and maybe pick off a few of them.

So, right now I have some Do-24's parked in Merauke with AVP support. They are set to training to keep a low profile. They were responsible for some AK sinkings up in the Malay area so I want to set them to Naval Attack when the invasion fleet passes Milne Bay. Also in the Horn Island area are the CLs Boise, Adelaide, Marblehead, Perth, and the CAs Louisville and Australia.

On PM itself is the 30th Aus Bde, 1 RAAF and 1 RAN engineer units, the PM Bde and the 5 RAN CD Artillery Rgt. The 7th RAN CD Rgt is on the way to Townsville, and so is the 18th British Infantry Div, which I diverted at the start of this fight. I don't know if they will make it in time. Oh yeah, 400 mines in the harbor too.

As soon as the Hudsons on Rabaul saw the Japs coming, I started moving Dutch subs and a couple S boats into the area between Woodlark Island and Rennel.

So...there I was..feeling pretty smug about the Malay campaign results, when on 28 Dec 41, this happens...

Sub attack near Deboyne Islands at 103,134

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
BB Kirishima
CA Chikuma
CA Tone
CL Abukuma
DD Nenohi
DD Hatsuharu
DD Kasumi

Allied Ships
SS S-38

SS S-38 launches 2 torpedoes at CV Shokaku

Damn! Near miss

-----------------------------------------
ASW attack near Fergusson Island at 103,132

Japanese Ships
DD Wakaba, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-37
-----------------------------------------
Sub attack near Kiriwina Island at 103,130

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Kirishima
CA Chikuma
CA Tone
CL Abukuma
DD Akigumo
DD Wakaba
DD Nenohi
DD Hatsuharu
DD Kasumi

Allied Ships
SS KXIV

Fuel storage explosion on CV Soryu
SS KXIV launches 4 torpedoes at CV Soryu
------------------------------------------

SCORE!!! Soryu showed up as sunk the next day, but no corresponding increases in plane losses, so I'm thinking FOW. However, I'm hoping for an extended stay in the shipyard.

30 Dec 41

Still no sign of the invasion TF, but the carriers had lingered and were softening up PM. The Dutch subs were moving around too. Thanks to the Catalinas on PM, Mike can't fart around the Woodlark area without me knowing about it...

Sub attack near Woodlark Island at 106,132

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Kirishima
CA Chikuma
CA Tone
CL Abukuma
DD Hatsushima
DD Kasumi
DD Nenohi
DD Hatsuharu
DD Arare

Allied Ships
SS KXII

Ammo storage explosion on CV Hiryu
Ammo storage explosion on CV Hiryu
SS KXII launches 4 torpedoes at CV Hiryu

WOW, 3 hits and 2 ammo storage explosions. Mike has all but confirmed that Hiryu will sink on the next turn. I have 3 more Dutch subs moving into the area now, maybe I can get lucky again....

The takeaway from all this ? Yeah, you'll lose Malaya, and probably PM too...but you extract a price.

(in reply to tc464)

Post #: 5

RE: Wrecking Solli's Weekends - tc464(A) v. Mike Solli(... - 1/16/2012 10:23:54 PM

denisonh

Posts: 2194
Joined: 12/21/2001
From: Upstate SC
Status: offline

Nicely done

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"Life is tough, it's even tougher when you're stupid" -SGT John M. Stryker, USMC

(in reply to tc464)

Post #: 6

RE: Wrecking Solli's Weekends - tc464(A) v. Mike Solli(... - 1/19/2012 3:02:34 AM

tc464

Posts: 126
Joined: 2/27/2004
From: Sodom on Potomac
Status: offline

Thanks denisonh.

Well it appears that Mike's invasion TF has turned around and headed back to Rabaul. I had all of the subs in the immediate give chase but Mike has a lot of ASW TF's out now, and his fleet is only 1 hex away from Rabaul. I imagine he will keep those ASW TF's in the area to try and clean out my subs. I'll probably rotate them back to Sydney to rearm/repair as needed, but I have quite a few subs sitting between Milne Bay and Rennell Islands waiting for his next attempt.

By turning his TF back I have bought myself a little time with PM. I have an additional RAA CD regiment railroading across Oz and headed for Townsville. There are ample AP and AK boats there to move them to PM. I also have the 18th British Infantry Division loading up in amphib mode at Perth, and they should be underway tomorrow. 5 more US cruisers and about 10 destroyers arrived in Auckland today, and after refueling they will head NW to Brisbane. I'll get a couple more ASW TF's going as well. Mike has at least 2 subs roaming around between Townsville and PM and I'd like to run them off.

The only concern I have is air power. I don't have any decent fighters in the area and Mike has Bettys in Rabaul. That will be a real threat when I try to land more troops and supply.

< Message edited by tc464 -- 1/19/2012 3:03:42 AM >

(in reply to denisonh)

Post #: 7

RE: Wrecking Solli's Weekends - tc464(A) v. Mike Solli(... - 1/20/2012 5:02:22 AM

denisonh

Posts: 2194
Joined: 12/21/2001
From: Upstate SC
Status: offline

Time is the coin of the realm for the Allied player in early game. Putting a hitch in his KB giddyup and stalling an invasion on PM allows you to gather strength there, as well as put a general brake on KB related activites.

PM is generally bad unless the Allies can get a naval victory/edge to offest the advantage in ground forces.

Looks like you have won round 1 of a 15 round heavyweight match.......

_____________________________

"Life is tough, it's even tougher when you're stupid" -SGT John M. Stryker, USMC

(in reply to tc464)

Post #: 8

RE: Wrecking Solli's Weekends - tc464(A) v. Mike Solli(... - 1/20/2012 7:58:21 AM

jrcar

Posts: 3613
Joined: 4/19/2002
From: Seymour, Australia
Status: offline

Nice use of subs! Time is the enemy of the Japanese I agree.

Cheers
Rob

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AE BETA Breaker

(in reply to denisonh)

Post #: 9

RE: Wrecking Solli's Weekends - tc464(A) v. Mike Solli(... - 1/21/2012 1:53:15 AM

tc464

Posts: 126
Joined: 2/27/2004
From: Sodom on Potomac
Status: offline

Hiryu survived the 3 torpedoes a couple days ago, but the Dutch subs kept after her...

Sub attack near Feni Islands at 107,127

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Akigumo

Allied Ships
SS KXVIII

Fuel storage explosion on CV Hiryu
SS KXVIII launches 4 torpedoes at CV Hiryu
KXVIII diving deep ....
DD Akigumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Akigumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Akigumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Akigumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Akigumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

2 more fish, a fuel explosion, and this time I heard the sinking sounds. When I get the turn I'll check the plane losses as well, but I'm thinking she went down for sure this time.

Time to pull those subs back and wait for him to try again, and try he will. 18 Inf Div is well under way now but is still several days off. Its a race.

(in reply to jrcar)

Post #: 10

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> Wrecking Solli's Weekends - tc464(A) v. Mike Solli(J) [no Mike Solli]

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